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Pastora's beauties when unblown, Z407

Introduction

Pastora’s beauties when unblown is an early song, published in Playford’s third book of Choice Ayres and Songs to Sing to the Theorbo-lute or Bass-viol in 1681. It was also included in William Pearson’s collection Wit and Mirth in 1719. Pastora is a stock shepherdess of literature (appearing, for instance, in Spenser’s The Faerie Queen as Pastorella). Here the story is sad; the singer recognized Pastora’s beauties from an early age and used to lie awake at night pining for her. He had never before fallen in love, but Fate ‘whom none can control’ pointed Pastora to our lover. Between verses two and three all has gone wrong and our lover berates the gods, demanding that they ‘take away the tort’ring pain’. Purcell’s setting is a strophic one, delicious in its lute-song simplicity.

Recordings

'An auspicious launch to a project that will probably have no real competiton for years to come; I recommend it heartily' (Fanfare, USA)'An exceptional recording with consummate singing and playing which is worthy of pride of place in any vocal collection' (CDReview)» More

Details

Pastora’s beauties when unblown, E’er yet the tender bud did cleave, To my more early love were known, Their fatal pow’r I did perceive How often in the dead of night, When all the world lay hush’d in sleep, Have I thought this my chief delight, To sigh for you, for you to weep!

Upon my heart, whose leaves of white No letter yet did ever stain, Fate (whom none can control) did write, ‘The fair Pastora here must reign’. Her eyes, those darling suns shall prove Thy love to be of noblest race Which took its flight so far above All human things on her to gaze.

How can you then a love despise? A love that was infus’d by you; You gave breath to its infant sighs, And all its griefs that did ensue. The pow’r you have to wound, I feel, How long shall I of that complain? Now show the pow’r you have to heal, And take away the tort’ring pain.